Up 11-0 to start the game, Oak Ridge’s offense slowed down, the defense slumped and the Knoxville West Rebels crept back to within 18-12 at the end of the first quarter. After a quick pair of buckets from Isaac Merian, the Wildcats went up and again the Rebels cut the lead to within seven points, 31-23, with a basket before the buzzer.

Robert Holder

Up 11-0 to start the game, Oak Ridge’s offense slowed down, the defense slumped and the Knoxville West Rebels crept back to within 18-12 at the end of the first quarter. After a quick pair of buckets from Isaac Merian, the Wildcats went up and again the Rebels cut the lead to within seven points, 31-23, with a basket before the buzzer.

Coach Green let his team know about it. The guys responded.

Oak Ridge put on more steam stretching their lead to as much as 20 points before finishing with a 69-51 win against the Rebels.

“I wasn’t real pleased with our overall energy and intensity and aggressiveness on the defensive end,” coach Green said. “There is an expectation as a coach that I have as far as what I want to see. From what I seen from an energy standpoint was a little lacking.

“Playing back-to-back may have something to do with it. I thought we could improve, and we addressed that at halftime.”

Oak Ridge started the second half where they left off — on the block. Merian got back-to-back baskets to begin the third. That forced West to call a timeout. He finished with 20 points and six rebounds on the night.

“I expect that from him every game,” Green said of his 6-foot-6 post player. “He’s capable. He’s a junior now, smart and a good kid and tries really hard. He’s a tough matchup.”

After the timeout, it was Rian Hall’s turn. The shifty guard split the Rebels defense and offense grabbing a pair of turnovers and scoring six straight points. Hall finished with 17 points, four rebounds and three assists in just his second game.

“Rian had his second good game in a row, which is encouraging,” Green said.

The supporting cast all chimed in for Oak Ridge (3-0) as 10 players scored and all 12, for the second night in a row, saw playing time in a pair of double-digit wins.

But despite the win, Green still said there was work to be done.

“Playing both those teams you can get a gage for the areas you need to improve on,” Green said. “We will evaluate all that and improve on the areas we aren’t good at and keep building on our strengths.”

The boys will meet up with the Lady Wildcats to start District 3-AAA play Tuesday. Oak Ridge will start its 16-game district schedule at Anderson County. The next home game will be Friday against rival Clinton. Tip-off for the girls varsity game is at 6 p.m. for both doubleheaders.